🚀 go-pugleaf

 > Where were the crabs?
 > Are they not considered the delicacy that shrimp and crawfish are?
 > Do they ship them all north for resale?
 > 
 > Are steamed crabs unheard of?  What about Old Bay?  I know that's 
 > made
 > locally, but what do other places use?
 > 
 > And finally, what would people there think of the way we prepare 
 > them?
 > 

Well, first let me say that I've been in the DC area since '77 but I spent
the first 29 years of my life in N'Awlins.  I try to get back home every year
for a week or 2.                                                               
 As to were they were, even down in N'Awlins it is hard to find big crabs in
Dec to early March.  We would NEVER steam a crab, a crawfish, or a shrimp,
they are boild.  Remember the tast of the new potatoes, well that is from the
"crab boil".  Rex or Horseshoe brand crab boil is as famous down along the
Gulf Coast as Old Bay is here.  

Boiling vs Steaming -  It is my observation that the flavor of the spices does
not get to the meat if something is steamed, the Old Bay gets on your hands and
thus the spice gets into your mouth when you eat the crab.  By boiling the
spicey water gets into the crab/crawfish and mixes with the meat.  When boiling
one also can added potatoes, corn, garlic, and onions that can be eaten with
the seafood.  
 
Most people eat boiled seafood at home.  There are 100s of seafood
shops/supermarkets/markets/roadside stalls in the New Orleans metro area that
sell crabs/shrimp/crawfish either already boiled or live (except for shrimp
which is on ice) the live/iced ones are then boiled at home.  
 
Hot (heat) vs Cold.   Its all in what one likes.

Restaurants.  When one goes out to eat, it is to get seafood cooked in a Creole
(the real food of New Orleans) or Cajun (country food) way.  The thinking is,
"why pay for boiled food at a restaurant when I can get it for MUCH less and
take it home." 

Hope this helps, feel free to ask more.
 
Oh Yes, she crabs.   I found it strange when I moved up here that female crabs
are hard to find.  For as long as I can remember I was told that the female
crab had a better taste and more fat, thus better to eat.